MERIDA PRESS CAMP 2011

Since the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM has been poised to conquer a top spot among the most successful mountain bike teams in the world year after year, the riders have enjoyed true media hype. No wonder, that it intensified another notch after José Antonio Hermida recently won the cross country world championship title.

When the team squad for the 2011 season was presented to the public between February 18 and 20, 2011 as usual in Santa Ponca/Costa de la Calma, Mallorca, the event was attended by more than 200 guests at the hotel ”Iberostar Jardin del Sol“ – including as many as 103 journalists from 21 countries. Representatives from the daily and specialized press from around the globe, special interest journalists, the top photographers of the scene, radio and television crews were in attendance - presenting the same image over and over: XC world champion José A. Hermida surrounded by a cluster of people. Especially the Spanish media representatives went to great lengths to cover “their very own“ World Champion.

José A. Hermida is convinced of the concept of the media camp: “the opportunity to discuss the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM every year in Mallorca within the scope of our training camp is a major benefit for us; without being rushed and forced to keep an eye on the appointment schedule. He also points out “that this event is more than just a press conference, ultimately, it is also about making the final arrangements with the team prior to the start of the season.“

Therefore, the focus is not only on him, but equally on the two experienced riders who also won numerous titles; they are Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja (8 time world champion, Olympic champion) as well as Ralph Näf (World and European Champion). With these three experienced bikers at the top of the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM, it is easy to forget that three other aspiring candidates for prizes and trophies are competing on MERIDA bikes, namely Jochen Käss, Andreas Kugler and Hannes Genze; they are expected to make a name for themselves particularly in the long distance and the renowned stage races.

The renewed presence of MERIDA CEO William Jeng, MERIDA Europe head Wolfgang Renner as well as head developer Jürgen Falke demonstrated that this opportunity - which is unique in the world with respect to the format and scope - to interview, photograph and film the team very closely and with plenty of time, and to be able to ride alongside the professionals for a short distance is extremely important for the MERIDA brand. The head developer used the setting of the press conference to present the new work tool of the team riders for the 2011 season, namely the BIG.NINE Carbon Team, to the attendees this early on. In addition to the successful 26 inch bikes O.NINE and NINETY-SIX, the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM will be equipped with a 29 inch carbon hard tail for this season, the BIG.NINE Carbon Team, which is sure to emphasize the team’s claim to victory once again. With a sensational frame weight of less than 1‘100 grams, light-weight and quick parts from Sram, DT Swiss, Selle Italia, Maxxis and PRC, the BIG.NINE Carbon Team bikes are sure to catapult the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM professionals to the very top, especially on longer courses.